The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has launched a six-month consultation on draft second cycle River Basin Management Plans for Northern Ireland.
The draft plans, which have been issued for public consultation in accordance with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, cover the North Eastern River Basin District (RBD) and two International River Basin Districts or IRBDs, the North Western IRBD and the Neagh Bann IRBD.
Only a very small portion of the Shannon IRBD lies in Northern Ireland - the authorities in the Republic of Ireland will be in the lead on drafting the plan for this district. The plans contain a programme of potential measures that could be implemented to try to maintain and, where appropriate, improve the status of the Northern Ireland water environment.
The Department will publish final second cycle plans by 22 December 2015, setting out what it believes to be feasible and realistic in terms of objectives for water bodies and the types of measures that are affordable.
The final plans will cover a planning period of six years until 2021.
The consultation includes the following six key questions:
- Do you agree with the proposed changes to water body boundaries and Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs) within the River Basin Districts?
- Do you agree with the proposed objectives and level of improvement set for Northern Ireland’s water environment?
- Have we taken the right approach to help us achieve these objectives?
- Should our priority be maximising the number of water bodies at good status or improving the worst water bodies? What would you do first?
- Can you identify any new or existing measures, projects or initiatives that you or your organisation can help deliver?
- Do you have any suggestions to enhance partnership working to implement the Plan at a local level?
The consultation, which runs for six months to 22 June 2015, has been designed to be viewed online to give maximum benefit from the interactive tools.
Click here to access the consultation documents online.
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